Movies at a Glance & New DVDs

THERE ARE 4 NEW REVIEWS THIS WEEK:ALLADIN; ALL IN TIME; BOOKSMART; WINE COUNTRY.

NEW:ALADDIN (2hrs 8min) *** It has been 27 years since Disney introduced the animated feature Alladin with Robin Williams providing the voice of the Genie. Current reviewers are comparing it to director /writer Guy Ritchie’s live action adaptation and many prefer the original which, like the current version, was based on one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights). Not having seen the 1992 version, there will be no comparisons in this review. The plot is well known. Pick-pocketting Aladdin (Mina Massoud) is a poor “street rat” and, with his CGI pet monkey Abu, they steal whatever they can from the crowded streets of Agrabah in order to survive. He helps a young woman (Naomi Scott) who is unable to pay for bread for starving kids, but he doesn’t realize that she is incognito Princess Jasmine while believing she is a handmaiden to the princess. Actually the handmaiden is Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) who takes a shine to the Genie later. Strong willed Jasmine wants to succeed her father The Sultan (Navid Negahban) on the throne but women are prohibited in that role and he is anxious to find her a suitable prince while she just wants true love. The ambitious sorcerer Grand Vizier Jafar (miscast Marwan Kenzari), with his hypnotizing cobra staff, has disdain for Jasmine and plots with his CGI parrot Iago for more power by acquiring the Genie’s lamp. We remember that whoever possesses the magic lamp gets three wishes. But only one person is worthy of entering the Cave of Wonders, and that’s Aladdin. Jafar tells him that he can make him rich enough to impress Jasmine if he can retrieve the hidden lamp. He does and finds a supportive magic carpet as well. When Abu steals a ruby, they escape before the massive cave collapses. Jafar is given the lamp but he has Aladdin and Abu thrown back into the cave. Abu manages to steal the lamp which Aladdin rubs and the wisecracking blue-skinned Genie (Will Smith) appears. When freed from the cave, Aladdin’s first wish is to become a handsome Prince (Ali Ababwa to be exact), suitable for wooing feisty Jasmine, and he promises his third wish will be to free the Genie. The magical adventures and battles with evil Jafar are just starting. What happens when Jafar steals the lamp and has his three wishes granted? .There are 2 new and old songs like “A Whole New World,” the production and costume design are lavish, the locations and special effects are fabulous, there’s more than a touch of Bollywood musical dancing, and I’m sure kids will find it fun, lively and enjoyable. (Intl Village, Scotiabank Theatre, Metropolis)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyufD52aogNEW:ALL IS TRUE (1hr 41min) *** Hard to know from that title that this is a story about England’s greatest poet and playwright William Shakespeare but actually that was the alternate title of his play HenryV111. Born in Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare married pregnant Anne Hathaway when he was 18 and she was 26. They had three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet (died at age 11 of unknown causes) and Judith, and the story revolves around all three. The Globe Theatre in London was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, and here most of his plays were unveiled. In 1613 it burned down, caused by a theatrical cannon misfiring and igniting the wooden beams and thatching. Returning home to Stratford with Anne, world-weary Shakespeare declared that he would never write another play (“I’m done with stories. I’ve lived so long in the imaginary world that I’ve lost sight of what is real.”). Shakespeare left school at 14, was a veracious reader and he never travelled the world, so how did he manage to write masterpieces so often set in countries he had never seen? Shakespeare (an extensively made-up Kenneth Branagh, also director) was haunted by the ghost of dead Hamnet (Sam Ellis), but how much of this story is true? The absentee father’s sole interest in his two adult daughters, both harbouring resentments, is that they could provide him with a grandson. He tried to make amends with his frosty neglected wife Anne (Judi Dench) who immediately consigned him to the guest room. (“Through my genius I’ve brought fame and fortune to this house!”) Troubled Susanna (Lydia Wilson) was married (and unfaithful) to Puritan Dr. John Hall (Hadley Fraser), and Shakespeare’s anguished unmarried other daughter (Hamnet’s twin) Judith (Kathryn Wilder) kept insisting, “The wrong twin died,” He rarely visited them in two years. Shakespeare resolved to build a special garden in memory of Hamnet. A touching, amusing scene occurs with the visit of Shakespeare’s close friend, the ageing Earl of Southampton (colossally wigged Ian McKellen), who earlier had scorned flattering MP Sir Thomas Lucy (Alex Macquen), in order to talk privately with Shakespeare who obviously had deep personal feelings for the earl (was he the “Dark Lady” in his sonnets?). Women, like Anne, were never taught to read and write, and angry Judith had a bitter showdown with her obstinate father over sonnets he had received from pre-teen Hamnet which he enthusiastically praised, while not knowing the truth. Could his deeply divided family finally reunite and find some happiness in Shakespeare’s final years? (Fifth Avenue) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt4K5-5_N1sTHE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM (1hr 32min) *** Documentary. Documentary nature film maker John Chester and his chef / food blogger wife Molly adopted a black dog they named Todd, took it home to their cramped Santa Monica .apartment but Todd barked incessantly when they were out at work. Angry neighbours complaint led to an eviction notice. They packed and headed towards Ventura Country looking for somewhere cheap and spacious, such as a 200 acre parcel of barren, parched land in Moorpark and decided they were going to revive it. They engaged “traditional farming” consultant Alan York to help them embrace biodiversity, and received support from a small group. The inspirational film, with John as voice-over narrator, chronicles their trial and error efforts at land recovery and their successive 8 years eventually resulted in the remarkable profitable success they achieved in their environmentally friendly Apricot Lane Farms. They don’t mention how they financed the purchase of the land, a beautiful home and expensive equipment, as well as countless animals and birds. “Compost was our goal!” The sumptuous photography by John and four others is superb and the characters introduced are entertaining. A sleeper hit! (Intl Village)NEW:BOOKSMART (1hr 45min) *** Best friends since childhood, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) are intelligent high school students on the eve of graduation. Molly overheard students state that school isn’t everything and, while Amy and Molly studied, the others enjoyed their years slacking and partying and yet they all managed to get accepted into major colleges. Molly persuaded reluctant Amy that tonight they would make up for the lost times, starting with the senior class’ vice president Nick’s (Mason Gooding) party Amy hadn’t come out although Molly knew she had a crush on Ryan (Victoria Ruesga). Molly, determined to become the Supreme Court’s youngest justice ever, would deliver the closing statement at the graduation ceremony. But neither knew where Nick’s party was being held. They got a ride from wealthy friend Jared (Skyler Gisondo), who took them to his decorated yacht where they were greeted by his only guest, super rich drugged-out Gigi (Billie Lourd). They got a surprise ride from principal Jordan Brown (Jason Sudeikis) who dropped them off at the house of their friend George (Noah Galvin) who was having a Murder Mystery party theme. Gigi reappeared and warned them the food on the yacht was drugged and, sure enough, they started to hallucinate. They got help and glitzy party clothes from their teacher Ms. Fine (Jessica Williams) and she drove them to Nick’s party. Molly made a beeline for her crush Nick, and when Amy saw Ryan, she went to talk to her but disappointingly found her smooching with Nick and that left Molly dejected. Amy wanted to leave but Molly wouldn’t let her and a war of words exploded between the two. Without telling Molly, Amy confessed she had planned a gap year to go to Botswana and she was tired of being bossed endlessly by Molly. The heated argument attracted a crowd and tearful Amy fled to the washroom where she encountered sarcastic Hope (Diana Silvers). Amy plucked up courage to suddenly kiss her and that almost led to sex, except Amy finished off a drink and immediately vomited over furious Hope. When the police arrived to bust up the party, Amy created a diversion which allowed the partygoers to escape, but she was hand cuffed and taken to prison. As graduation day dawned, Molly was horrified to learn of Amy’s arrest. Would the friends reconcile and would Amy make it to the valediction? New director Olivia Wilde has created an amusing, raucous contemporary teen comedy that will have immense appeal to its target audiences, especially girls. (Park Theatre, Intl Village) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6l98sWPTgoTHE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (1hr 53min) *** ½ Nigerian English actor Chiwetel Ejoifor (12 Years a Slave) makes an impressive directorial debut and is co-writer of this inspirational British drama set in rural Malawi, based on the memoir by William Kamkwamba. In 2001, William (Maxwell Simba) lived with his impoverished family led by uneducated father Trywell (Ejoifor). The farming family struggled annually with scorching drought followed by torrential rain, thus causing famine. At 13, he had a fascination for electronics and scavenged parts from the scrap yard to repair radios for the villagers. With crop failure, his father (Ejoifor) couldn't afford William's school tuition although the boy snuck into science classes and read library books. He was adamant he could build a makeshift wind turbine using dad's only form of transportation, his bicycle, and other odds and ends, bringing water into the parched community. It's a compelling life or death survival story with a splendid breakthrough performance by Simba. (Netflix)EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE (1hr 50min) *** Presiding judge Edwartd Cowart made those remarks at sociopath, serial killer, kidnapper and rapist Ted Bundy’s trial for multiple murders (he confessed to 30 between 1974 and '78) while sentencing him in 1980 to death by electrocution. In 1969 Seattle law student Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) met single mom "Liz" (Lily Collins) and she became his romantic and domestic partner throughout his years of crime. Based on her 1981 memoir: "The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy," the compelling story is told from Liz’ prospective and we are spared gruesome details of his victims' deaths. From January to July 1975 young women were attacked and brutally murdered by a serial killer. A drawing by one woman who escaped resembled Bundy but there was no proof. Over time Liz struggled with the accusations and co-incidences and she grew more distant. He was then involved with Carole Ann Boone (Kaya Scodelario), getting her pregnant. This builds up to the final 1979 Miami nationally televised courtroom scene where Ted fired his lawyer, married Carole Ann, and received the death sentence, Interesting! (Netflix) THE HIGHWAYMEN (2hrs 12min) *** This has been in development by writer John Fusco since 2005 initially as a Paul Newman and Robert Redford project about a couple of retired Texas Rangers who were hired to apprehend notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde. Texas governor "Ma" Ferguson (Kathy Bates) disbanded the Texas Rangers to introduce a new younger generation of law enforcement officers and high on their wanted list was trigger happy, wild and young Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow whose crime spree started in 1931 ending in 1934, killing 9 lawmen during that time. Unable to apprehend them and stung by bad publicity, Ma called out of retirement and gave "highwaymen" status to former Ranger Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Manny Gault (Woody Harrelson) and the overly long film follows their exploits in tracking down and eventually killing the celebrated murderous wild and young couple. Much of the film relies on the officers' chemistry, including a lot of dry humour, and director John Lee Hancock made the perfect choice of old pros Costner and Harrelson. (Netflix)HOMECOMING A film by Beyonce (2hrs 17min) *** ½ The universally acclaimed documentary written, directed and executive co-produced by R&B superstar Beyonce Knowles-Carter is a spectacular concert, playing tribute to black culture, taking place for two weekends at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival including archival footage and home videos clips (voiced by Beyonce). The extraordinary extravaganza on pyramid rafters has a continuously moving cast of 200 black dancers, a choir, a drumline and marching band. Superbly and exquisitely choreographed, costumed, rehearsed and directed, the lengthy production is exhausting but exhilarating to watch. A brief break follows pregnant Beyonce leading to her twins' births, followed by preparation with out of shape Beyonce in a countdown to Coachella. "I studied my history, I studied my past and I put every mistake and all my triumphs from my 22-year career into my two-hour homecoming performance." Although not a fan of Beyonce's hip-hop music, I am of her accomplishments in her remarkable masterpiece. (Netflix)JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM (2hrs 11min) *** ½ “The brilliantly directed and incredibly choreographed extended fight sequences by stuntman /director Chad Stahelski reassembled characters from the two previous Wick neo-noir action thrillers. When John Wick (Keanu Reeves) killed an Italian crime lord in the “safe house for assassins” Continental Hotel, he knew manager Winston (Ian McShane) must list him as excommunicado, and the “High Table,” offered a contract of $14 million on his life. On his escape through rival NY territories, John is attacked by numerous hit squads. Each of these elaborate sequences is precise and perfect, thanks to the director, choreographer, editor, stunt team and actors, especially Reeves, working as one. High Table’s Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) warned John’s friends including Bowey King (Laurence Fishburne) that they must comply. John approached former mentor Director (Angelica Huston) for a safe passage to Casablanca to appeal to the High Table leader and he met up with former friend Sofia (Halle Berry) and her attack dogs. It’s wall-to-wall action packed excitement! (Scotiabank Theatre, Fifth Avenue, Metropolis) LONG SHOT (1hr 55min) ** What happens when a free spirited, unemployed, slovenly journalist meets up with his former babysitter (he was 13 and she was 16), now the powerful U.S. Secretary of State and presidential candidate, and she hires him as speechwriter when told she wasn’t funny enough. The superficial romantic comedy is reasonably funny but just not sharp, When ant-Republican newspaper journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) learns The Brooklyn Advocate is being taken over by the massive Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis) conservative media conglomerate and he quits in protest. At a World Wildlife Fund party he is recognized by Charlene Field (Charlize Theron) who has just been endorsed as his potential successor by the dorky current President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) and is looking for a specific speechwriter and she hires Flarsky. He joins her successful world tour along with campaign manager (June Diane Raphael) and bag man (Ravi Patel).promoting a comprehensive environmental treaty, and enroute she and Flarsky attend a drug filled romp in Parisian nightclubs and the stoned couple start an affair. There are jokes about drugs, sex, masturbation, flatulence, raunchy gross sight gags and profane language. (Fifth Avenue, Scotiabank Theatre)ROMA (2hrs 15min) ** Definitely not designed for mainstream audiences, it's for staunch film critics, festival and art house patrons who will rave about. Written, directed, shot and co-edited by Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron, the bleak black and white semi-autobiographical screenplay is slow, set in 1970-71 and centred on the life of a beloved live-in house keeper, expressionless Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), caring for a middle class family in the neighbourhood of Colonia Roma on the outskirts of Mexico City. The family consisted of Sofia (Marina de Tavira) and forever absent husband Dr. Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) and their four boisterous young children, It becomes obvious that Antonio has a mistress and his "business" trip are excuses. When Cleo becomes pregnant, her boyfriend deserts her. Sofia takes the family and Cleo to a friend's hacienda in Mexico City for New Year at a time when there was open hostility on the streets between landowners and workers, resulting in many deaths. Shots and scenes linger for far too long although the photography and production are sumptuous. It has won numerous Best Film Awards worldwide including Oscar's Best Foreign Lasnguage Film. (Netflix)THE SILENCE (1hr 30min) * Just a year ago a horror film titled A Quiet Place, with the same basic theme of a world under attack by sc-fi CGI creatures which hunt by sound, became a major box office hit. A new bland and boring film is not helped by a weak, dull script. A cave research team disturbs millions of blind, squawking, large winged lizards (or vesps), which fly out of an uncharted mine, attacking viciously any noise. The government declares a state of emergency, advising people to say indoors and not to make any sound. Hugh and Kelley (Stanley Tucci, Miranda Otto) and their deaf teenage daughter Ally (Kiernan Shipka), pre-teen son Jude (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf), maternal cancer ridden grandmother Lynn (Kate Trotter) and dog Otis. head to the quieter countryside with the vesps following. This is not just a dumb movie but it is really bad. (Netflix)TRIPLE FRONTIER (2hrs 5min) ** That's the frontier between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, and director/writer J.C.Chandor's concept is simple: five former Special Forces operatives plan a heist of millions in cash belonging to a drug lord, hiding in the multi-border jungle of South America, and they intend to share the loot among themselves. The first boring hour is spent with the guys reuniting. There's Tom (Ben Affleck), Santiago (Oscar Isaac), Bill (Charlie Hunnam), Ben (Garrett Hedlund) and Francisco (Pedro Pascal), unfortunately with minimal character development. As a private military advisor combating Colombia drug crime, Santiago learns cartel king-pin Lorea (Reynaldo Gallegos) doesn't trust banks and uses home as his bank. When he is at mass leaving minimal house security, the team attacks and finds $250 million within the walls which they take. The problem is in flying that huge overweight over the Andes in a helicopter and that starts the second hour with Lorea's gang waiting for them all along the way. Even then, the pacing is lethargic, although the visuals are impressive throughout. (Netflix)TURN UP CHARLIE (Eight ½ hour shows Season 1) ** Idris Elba became a superstar with his hard-hitting BBC crime drama series Luther and for others the HBO series The Wire. He has co-created and stars in a British comedy series as struggling bachelor disc jockey Charlie Ayo, a former 90s pop star, who reluctantly becomes the nanny for 11 year old problem child Gabrielle (Frankie Hervey), precocious, annoying, spoiled daughter of famous married close friends, world-renowned deejay Sara (Piper Perabo) and movie star David (JJ Field). Turn up is a turn off. Charlie is hoping that with Sarah's help in her home recording studio he can put his music career back on track. We're hoping after this disaster Elba can put his own career back on track – he's just not funny – and return to his cool, menacing and brooding self which is what worldwide audience love about his dramatic characters. (Netflix)THE WHITE CROW (2hrs 7min) *** Directed by actor, film producer and director Ralph Fiennes, the White Crow is the Russian term for an outsider, and that is what the greatest male ballet dancer of his generation Rudolf Nureyev (Ukranian ballet dancer Oleg Ivenko) was. Fiennes plays mild mannered Alexander Pushkin, his renowned ballet master at the great Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, Russia. Ukranian dancer Sergei Polunin plays Yuri Soloviev, eventually Nureyev’s room and bed mate. Nureyev was born to the impoverished Tatar Muslim family on a Trans-Siberian train. Taught dancing aged 6, Nureyev had a relentless ambition to succeed through self confidence, self worth and unbridled arrogance (“Everyone will know who I am!). He became a key member of the Kirov Ballet company. Financially strapped, the Pushkins invited Nureyev to share their claustrophobic accommodation and hostess Xenia (Chulpan Khamatova) forced herself on him, proving his bisexuality. When the company was performing in Paris, he slipped away to enjoy the decadent West, followed constantly by the KGB. The climax is his decision not to return to Russia, but to defect to the west, thereby exiling himself from home and family. (Fifth Avenue) NEW:WINE COUNTRY (1hr 43min) ** Rebecca (Rachel Dratch) is turning 50 and her close friend Abby (Amy Poehler, in her directorial debut) has invited their longtime close knit friends Naomi (Maya Rudolph), Val (Paula Pell), Jenny (Emily Spivey), Catherine (Ana Gasteyer) on a weekend visit to the scenic Napa Valley, California where she has rented an Airbnb among the vineyards to celebrate the occasion. They all worked in a Chicago pizzeria in the 1980s. For SNL Live viewers, those are all performers from that series. Unbeknownst to the others, Abby has planned a strict schedule including a tour of the vineyards and wine tasting and a tarot reading but starting with a dinner at an expensive restaurant where Val flirts openly with the young Asian-American waitress Jade (Maya Erskine). It’s a raucous event with the inebriated women singing songs and screeching loudly, which they do regularly with one liners thoughout the film. In actuality, all the friends have personal insecurities. Abby has lost her lob, Naomi is stressed out waiting a cancer test result, therapist Rebecca won’t accept her husband is unfaithful, lesbian Val is desperately looking for love, workaholic Catherine is swamped and constantly on her cell phone, and pessimistic Jenny is a neurotic writer. They are given a tour of the sprawling grounds from the eccentric widow owner Tammy (Tina Fey surprisingly unfunny). In the morning they are surprised to meet bearded Devon (Jason Schwartzman) who “comes with the house” and is their cook, driver and general handyman. Abby’s schedule includes an elongated personal tarot reading (not remotely funny) from a surly woman named Lady Sunshine (Cherry Jones) revealing their insecurities and depression. In frustration that her plans aren’t welcome, Abby dumps the schedule and they attend Jade’s art gallery opening which features paintings related to Fran Drescher’s The Nanny. The middle aged sextet talks down to the millennials in the crowd for their phones and internet obsessions. Too many sub-plots fail to pay off like Abby’s one night stand with Devon. And there are bits of impromptu ‘80s singalongs I assume for fillers? There’s nothing wrong with the talented performers but it’s the meandering clichéd script co-written by Paula Pell and Liz Cackowski (alums of SNL) which is lackluster and goes nowhere. “May I just say something.” Everyone is working furiously hard and loud for laughs and, in spite of the copious boozing, the result is just not that funny. (Netflix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P05jQ2fFWO0NEW DVDs